Climate shocks are eroding livelihoods and savings for the more than three billion people living in highly climate-vulnerable regions, and limited access to appropriate financial tools compounds this exposure, particularly for women and marginalized groups (IPCC 2022; Women's World Banking 2025). 

This note reviews the evidence on inclusive finance as a lever for climate adaptation and resilience, drawing primarily on randomized evaluations (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs, and sets out a research agenda to guide further work. 

The strongest evidence is on helping people respond to shocks through digital payments and index insurance. There is less evidence on whether savings and credit help people cope with shocks, and even less on what works for people in urban areas, those working in the informal economy, and people who do not rely on agriculture. Most existing studies focus on agricultural communities, and few examine how impacts differ for women and men.